Exhaust box



W. KING EXHAUST BOX Nov. 10, 1931.

Filed Jan: 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l WVEA/TOR WALTER K/A/cr YfiM/JA 4414 I103 Affo/wey w. KING EXHAUST BOX Nov. 10, 1931.

Filed Jan.

1i. 1926 a Sheets-Sheet 2 M/Vf/V T01? WALTER K/n/a 6/ (n ML M W. KING Nov. 10, 1931'.

EXHAUST BOX Filed Jan. 11 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W W. W 1

i KING, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSTGNOR .TO SPRAGUE-SELLS- CORPORA- provided 'for shunting the cans from'one portionof the conveyor to anotherportion Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oF-FI-CE TION, F HOOBESTON, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF. DELAWARE nxmmsr 130:;

Application filed January 11, 1926. Seria1 No. 80,460.

My'invention relates to devices used in the food packing industry for heating the cans prisoned air in .the Contents of "the container.

One of the objects of the inventionis the provision of an exhaust box embodymg the disk type of conveyor, in which means are ofthe conveyor.

My, invention possesses otherobjects and features of advantage,some of which with the foregoing'will be set forth in thefollowing description of the preferred formi of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part thereof in order to varythe effective length of the specification. It is to be understood.

that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the sc pe of the inventionjas set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a plan view of my exhaust box, the cover being removed and the end poitions broken away to shorten the figure.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of the exhaust box, drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1 and showingmore .clearly the guide rail structure. V

Figure 3 is a detail in elevation, showing one of the brackets for supporting the steam pipes.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section, the plane of section being indicated by the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section of a portion of the machine showing the bracket on which the guide rails and steam pipes are supported. I v V I From one angleimy" invention maybe re: garded as a conveyor suitable for use in a variety of apparatus in which material is treated during the progress thru the apparahis and in which it is desired to vary the time required for the treatment; In the present application I have chosen to embody my invention in an exhaust box for heating the cans after they have been filled, to exhaust V the air from the contents.

In generalterms my exhaust box comprises a housing in which a plurality of rows of tangentially arranged toothed carrier disks are'placed. The disks provide means for conveying the cans thru the hous1ng, and in alternate rowsthe'disks revolve in one 'd1rec tion while in the other rows the disks revolve in the opposite direction. The disks inany one row are not in mesh with each other but with the two adjacent disks in the adjoining row. A. drive shaft extending transversely across the rows below the disks is suitably geared to a 'disk structure preferably in two alternate rows, so as to distribute thestrain of the driving force, all ofthe disks then acting as a single gear train driven by'force applied at' two different points inthe train.

. The driving shaft is driven thru suitable clutch mechanism by a pulley connected toany suitable source of power. Thespacingof the" disks is preferably such that a straight line drawn between the centers of rotation =1 of theo'ther rows.

Steam pipes for distributing jets of steam within the housing, are arranged coincident with'planes cuttingthe centers of rotation of corresponding disks in alternate rows. These pipes are supported at their outer ends on suitable headers extending longitudinally of the outer row of disks, and attheir inner end, each pipe terminates in a block which is supported on a bracketprojecting upwardly from a transverse bar below the disks.-' There are a number of these bars which also serve tosupport'the hearings in which thedi'sks are journalled. "Guide rails are arranged adjacent these pipes and in part are supported on the same brackets. The guide railsdirect the cans'o'n the disks back and forth" transversely across the housing to the terminal disks-which are of course the'disksin the outer rows. The terminal disks receivefthe cans movingacross I the housing in one direction, carry them th-ru the guide rail which may be shifted into such a position as to permit the cans to remain on a disk in one of the intervening or inner rows long enough so that its direction of travel is changed; that is, the disk functions as a terminal disk to carry the can around and start it backwardly across the housing, thus shortening the distance thru which the can is carried by the length of the path across the disks skipped by the short cut.

Preferably these movable rail sections or switches are provided so that in a four-row exhaust box, two of the rows may berendered inactive, if allof the switches are open, thus reducingthe length of the can travel one-half. It will be obvious that with a setting of a different number of switches, practically any variation in the length of thecan travel from one-half to the full distance is readily secured. If but one set of switches is opened the length of the path thru which the cans'travel is shortened by an amount equal to the distance across the exhaust box. The opening of an additional set of switches, lessens the length of the can path by a similar amount. Thus the length of the path may be so fixed by the opening of the required number of switches that the time required for the material to pass thru the exhaust box is readily brought within the desired limit.

In detail my exhaust box comprises "a framework including end rails 2 and side rails 3. Legs 4 are suitably braced by cross bars 6 to support the frame on the floor. Spaced transversely across the frameat suitable intervals are bars 7 which preferably are of rectangular section, and which are secured in the side frame members 3. by suitable brackets 8. Firmly clan'ipedon these bars by the bolts 9 passing thru the caps 11 are the brackets 12, each of which is'preferably integrally formed with a vertical bearing box 13. The brackets alternate on each side of the bar and in the present embodiment of my invention there are four brackets on eachbar, altho six or eight may be used.

J ournalled in each bearing box is a shaft 16 on the upper end of which is fixed the carrier disk 17, preferably slightly concave on its upper surface and provided on its periphery with the spur gear teeth 18 preferably beveled slightly on the upper side to facilitate the movement of the cans thereover.

The radiusof each-carrierdisk is but little greater than the diameter of the largest container to be handled, andthe arrangement of mesh with two tangentially adjacent disks in parts is such that in plan view, the disks are arranged in an even number of rows, preferably four or. six, the disks in any row being outof engagement with each other but in theadjoining row. i q 1 Thus all the disks are geared together in a single gear train, and the direction oflrota- 7 tion of the disks in one row is oppositeto that of the disks in the adjoining row or rows. A line passing thru the centers of corresponding disks in alternate rows lies between and is substantially tangent to two disks in each of the other rows.

Since all of the disks are connected, driving one disk will drive the entire train, but in order to distribute the stress, I prefer to drive at two points. Two of the disks are each mounted on a shaft which extends downwardly thru the bearing box and terminates in a bevel gear 22. Extending across the machine below the gears 22, which preferably are arranged on shafts of disks in alternate rows, is a shaft 23 on which are fixed gears 2st, which are in mesh with the gears 2:2. The velocity of the shaft is cutdown by connection thru the gears 26 with the drive shaft 2'? between which andtlmdriving pulley 28 is interposed the clutch 29. controlled by the long rock shaft 31, having handles at the end of the machine .so that the operator can quickly reach a 'connectedby the pipe 37 with a suitable source of steani'under pressure. tending from the pipe 33 transversely across the disks are pipes 38 placed alittle above the surface of the disks andcoincident with a vertical plane determined by the axes of rotation of corresponding disks in alternate rows. The outer end of each pipe 38 is carried in the top of a bracket 39 projecting upwardly between the disks. and clamped at its lower end to the cross bar 7, on which adjustability is secured by the crews ll so that the pipes may be properly alined up with the disks. p

In similar manner pipes. are .supported at one end in the'header 34, and extend across the disks, between the pines 3%,

to supporting brackets 43 similar to brackets 39. There is this difference, however, be tween the pipes and the pipes 38. The latter extend straight across the disks a short distance above them, but the pipes 42 are each provided with a goose neck, or raised portion 4%, which overlies the farther half of the disks over which the switches operate. This .raised portion extends a sufficient dis tance above the surface of the'dislrs to provide afree passage thereunder for the cans carried bythe disks when the. switches are open. All the branch pipes 38 and 42 are perforated sothat live steam is admitted into the exhaust box thru them,

"Mounted on the brackets 46 fixed to the header pipe 38, and on the brackets 39 is a continuous guide rail 47, extending back and .forth across the disks. This rail overlies the outer portions of the peripheries of the ter- ,minal disks adjacent the header pipe 33, and

extends closely adjacent opposite sides. of the branch ipes 38 to the centers of the terminal disks on the opposite side. Asimilai' .rail 48 is mounted on the brackets 4-9 on the header pipe 34, overlying the outer portions of the peripheries of the adjacent terminal disks, and extending to the centers of the disks of the second'row, where it is sup ported by the bracket .51 disposed on the branch pipe 42. The continuity of this rail thereforeinterrupted for the farther half of the disks in the second row, and these portions of the disks are the ones bridged by the goosenecks 44.

, Begining at the far end of each gooseneck and lying in alineinent with the transverse straight-sections of the'rail 48, are therails .52, which extend to .the centers of the terminal disks. Each of these rails is similar to the corresponding portion of the rail 48 and is supported by a bracket 43, and by the lug 53, Figure 5, on the head '54; of the the bracket 56, mounted like the brackets 39 and 43on the cross; bars 7.

Means are provided! for insuring the movement of the cans back and forth across all of the disk rows between the guide rails 47 on one side, and the guide rails 428 and 52 on the other, or optionally, insuring the movement of the cans back and. forth across, say two rows only, between the guide rails -47 and 4.8; that is, switch rails are provided for shunting the caiisxunder the gooseneck instead of permitting them to complete their movement across the housing, thus shortening one round trip across the housing by about one-half. Journaled iii the head 54 of the bracket 56, and in the lug 57 thereon are two rock shafts 58 and 59, the former having a lever arm 61 fixed on its lower end. Fixed at the upper ends of the shafts 58 and are switch rails 62-and 63 respectively, lying in the same horizontal plane as the guide rails 48 and 52, and preferably curved on their .adj acentsides as best shown in Figure 2. These switch rails are formed with gear teeth 64 which mesh together so that switch 63 is .actuatedbv switch 62, and the movement of the two is uniform, opposite andsimultaneous. An operating rod-66, .pivotally connected to the end of each lever 61,

extends thru a collar 67, arranged on the sideGS of the exhaust box, and terminates in a knob (59. A, set or wing screw 71 in the collar provides means for securing the rod,

and the connected switch rails in adjusted position.

Figure 2 shows one pair Aof switch rails open to permitand insure the shunting movement of the cans around on the associated disk, under the gooseneck at that'point,fand their delivery in a contrary direction tothe .nextidisk. .Thusthe associated disk functions as a terminal disk and as to that particular round trip, the travel of the cans is reduced one-half. One pair B of switch rails is shown closed, and in this position they act "to insure the continued movement of the cans and their delivery in'tlie same direction to the next disk.

In Figure 1, the first three pairs of switch rails are shown 111 013611 position. the remaining pails being closed. in all the switches were closed, the cans would travel eleven times across the exhaust box. in the size of structure shown. To close the first "three pairs of switches, each trip across for the first six trips is reduced one-half so that the can travel is shortened by the equivalent of three trips, that is 3/11 or about 27% of the maximum. The opening of all the switches would shorten the can travel 5/11'or about 7 center of rotation, to the next disk, of

which they'are transposed to the opposite side of-the center of rotation, these disks revolving in opposite directions, and that this is true whether. thercan's travel across all four rows or are shunted thru a short cut by intermediate switches. g

At one end of the exhaust box a feed disk 73 is arranged,and on which the entering cans are placed. At the opposite: end, a discharge disk 7d receives the treated cans and carries them forward to the next step.

In order to confinewithinthe device the steam emitted from the. branch pipes, side walls 68 and end walls 76 are secured to the frame, extending upwardly far enough to clear the cans on the disks The upper edges of the side and end walls are provided with a chauneled'edging 77 and cover 7 8 having a down turned flange-aboutits edge is fitted into the channel edging, so as to easily removable tight closure. i

In order to prevent leakage of steam from the exhaust box, the space below the disks is closed by suitable pans 7 9, hung from the side frames on eachside oftlie shafts 23 and 27.

The space between the adjacent edges of the pane is filled with the inverted pan 81, supported. onthe side frame members. r

I claim;

1. An apparatus for treating material comprisinga conveyor including a plurality of.

disks arranged with the periphery of each disk adjacent thatof an adjacent disk, and

make an ios means for shunting the material from one portion of the conveyor to another portion thereof to vary the eiiective length of the conveyor. 7

2. An apparatus for treating material comprising a conveyor including a plurality of disks arranged in planar alinement with the periphery of each disk adjacent that of an adjacent disk, and selective means for shunting the material from one disk to another to vary the etlective length of the conveyor.

3. An apparatus for treating material comprising a disk conveyor, and means for associating selected disks into conveyors of different length.

4. In a conveyor comprising a plurality of cooperating circular units, means-for associating selected units into conveyors of different length.

5. In a conveyor arranged to move material thereon in a tortuous path, means for shunting the material across selected portions of the path to vary the effective length thereof.

6. In a conveyor comprising a plurality of circular and tangentially arranged cooperating units, rails for guiding the material to be conveyed on said units, and selective means for varying the continuity of said rails to vary the effective length of the conveyor.

7. In a conveyor, a plurality of cooperating units arranged in planar alinement, and movable guide means for varying the length of the path along which material on the conveyor moves.

8. In a conveyor comprising a plurality of cooperating units arranged in planar alinement, movable guide means for correlating selected units into conveyors of different.

length.

9. In a conveyor comprising a plurality of disks arranged with the periphery of each disk adjacent that of an adjacent disk, fixed rails for guiding the material to be conveyed on said disks, and switch rails for shunting the material over selected disks.

10. In a conveyor comprising a plurality of disks arranged with the periphery of each disk adjacent that of an adjacent disk, rails for uiding the material to be conveyed on said disks and including pivotal portions adjustable to cause the material to move over selected disks.

11. An apparatus for treating mater1al comprisinga housing, a conveyor arranged to move the material thru the housing, and means for positively shunting the material across selected portions of thepath of movement.

12. In an apparatus for treating material, a housing, a. conveyor insaid housing and including a plurality of tangentially ar ranged disks, and guide rails for correlating selected disks into length; I 3

13. In an apparatus for treating material, a housing, a conveyor in said housing and including a plurality of tangentially 'arranged disks, fixed railsfor guiding the material to be conveyed on said disks, and switch rails-for shunting the material over selected disks. v 1

l i. In an apparatus for treating material a housing, a disk conveyor in said housing, fixed rails for guiding the material to be conveyed on said disks, switch rails for shunting the material over selected disks, and means operabiefrom the outside of the housing moving selected switch rails.

15. A conveyor comprising a plurality of disks, means-for rotating the disks, guide rails for transferring material to, be conveyed "from the side of one disk to the side of an adjoining disk moving in the same direction and optionally operative guide rails for retaining the material on selected disks long enough to reverse the directionof movement of the material.

16. A conveyor comprising a plurality of rows of carrier disks, means forrotating' the disks in alternate rows in one direction and in the otherrows in the opposite direction, a guide rail overlying the disks to cause material on said disks to move back and forth across the rows to the terminal disks of the outer rows, and sections in said guide rail movable to overlie the periphery or" a selected conveyors of different disk in the inner rows to cause that disk to function as a terminal disk.

17. A conveyor comprising a plurality of disks, means for rotatingthe disks, a guide rail overlying the centers of the disks, and sections in said guide rail optionally movable to overlie the periphery of a selected disk. V 18. In a conveyor, a carrier disk, and a guide rail optionally movable from a radial position relative to said disk to a position substantially in alinement with the periphery thereof.

19. In a conveyor, a carrier disk, a fixed gu ice rail extending radially to, the center of the disk and-a guide rail optionally movable froina position-in'alinement with thefixed rail to a position overlying and substantially in alinement with the periphery of the disk.

20. In a conveyor, a carrier disk, means forrotating the disk, and a rail optionally movable from a position for guiding material to be'conveyed across the disk on one side of the cent-er thereof to a position for guiding material thereon during at least one-half of its rotation.

21. In a conveyor, a carrier disk, a pair of pivotally mounted guide rails arranged adjacent the disk, means connecting said rails for'u'nitary movement,and means for moving said rails.

22. In a conveyor, a carrier disk, a pair of for v tion.

ivotally mounted guide rails arranged adacent the disk, gear means connecting the rails for movement together, and means for moving said rails. f

23. In a conveyor, a carrier disk, a pair of pivotally mounted guide rails arranged adjacent the disk, means connecting said rails for unitary movement, means for moving said rails, and means for locking said rails in posi- 24. A conveyor comprising a plurality of rows of carrier disks, means for rotating the disks, a guide rail overlying the disks to cause material on the disks to move back and forth across the rows, a portion of said guide rail comprising a pair of pivotally mounted switch rails, means for connecting the switch rails for movement together, and means for moving the-switch rails to vary the effective length of the conveyor.

25. In a conveyor, a carrier disk, and a guide rail optionally movable from a radial position to a position in substantial alinement with the periphery of the disk to control the period of time during which the disk effects the movement of the material to be conveyed.

26. In a conveyor, a carrier disk, and a guide rail optionally adjustable from a radial position on the disk to a position in substantial alinement with the periphery of the disk to control the path of movement of the material to be conveyed on said conveyor.

27. A conveyor comprising a plurality of tangentially arranged carrier disks, means for rotating the disks, and a rail pivotally mounted between the disks and movable to guide material to be conveyed over the disks in optionally selected paths of different lengths.

28. A conveyor comprising a plurality of rows of tangentially arranged disks, bars eX- tending transversely below said rows and on which the disks are supported, means for rotating the disks, brackets on said bars extending upwardly between the disks, a guide rail supported on said brackets for causing articles on the disks to travel back and forth across the rows, a portion of said guide rail comprising a pair of switch rails pivotally mounted on one of said brackets, and means for moving the switch rails to vary the effective length of the conveyor.

29. A conveyor comprising a plurality of rows of tangentially arranged disks, means for rotating the disks, a guide rail overlying the disks for causing. material on the disks to travel back and forth across the rows and including switch sections movable to control the direction in which the material to be conveyed is transferred from the disks of the inner rows to the disks of the adjoining rows, and means for operating said switch sections.

30. An exhaust box comprising a housing, a plurality of carrier disks arranged in the housing, means for rotating the disks, an adju'stabl'e rail adjacent the disks for guiding articles thereover in optionally selected paths of difi'erent lengths, and means for adjusting said guide" rail from the outside ofthe hous g c 31. A conveyor"comprising a plurailty of carrier disks,'means for rotating the disks, a stationary guide rail overlying the disks to cause material tomove in a predetermined pathaeross said disks, and a pair of switch rails normally forming a continuation of the stationary rail and pivotally mountedto per mit positioning them in angular relationship to the stationary rail to shunt the material to a difierent predetermined path.

32. In combination with a disk conveyor, a switch rail pivotally mounted adjacent the edge'of one of the disks, and means for optionally moving said switch rail to a radial position above the disk or for swinging the to a position overlying the edge of the is r.

33. In combination with a disk conveyor, a pair of switch rails pivotally mounted adja cent the edge of one of the disks, each of said switch rails being provided with gear teeth in mesh with those of the other switch rail, and a lever secured to one of said switch rails for moving the switch rails from a radial position on the disk to a position in substantial alinement with the periphery of the disk.

34. An appartus for treating material comprising a conveyor positioned in a horizontal plane and including a plurality of disks ar-.

ranged with their peripheries adjacent, and means for shunting the material from one portion of the conveyor to another portion thereof to vary the effective length of the conveyor.

35. The combination with a conveyor comprising a plurality of rotatable disks 'ar ranged with their peripheries adjacent, and guide means for directing a movement of ma terial over all of said disks, of selective means for varying the effective length of the conveyor.

36. The combination with a conveyor comprising a plurality of rotatable disks arranged with their peripheries adjacent, and guide means for directing a movement of material' in an undivided path over all of said disks, of selective means for varying the effective length of the conveyor.

37. The combination with a conveyor comprising a plurality of rows of disks, the disks of each row being tangentially arranged with respect to the disks of the adjacent row, and means for directing a movement of material over said disks, of selective means for varying the effective length of the conveyor.

38. An apparatus for treating material comprising a conveyor, including a plurality of disks arranged with the periphery of each disk adjacent that of an adjacent disk, means for shunting the material from one portion of the conveyor to another portion thereof to vary the eflective length of the conveyor, and means for guiding all of the material along a selected conveyor length. 39. In a conveyor comprising a-plurality of cooperating circular units, means for associating selected units into conveyors of different length, and means for guiding all. of the material along a selected conveyor length,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER KING. 

